East Bethel considers raising park dedication fee, adding trail fee to fund maintenance and connections

East Bethel — City leaders signaled support Sept. 22 for revisiting park dedication fees and adding a trail fee to help pay for trail construction and long-term maintenance.

City staff reviewed the existing fee structure that applies to new development: a $2,000 park dedication fee for new single‑family lots and $1,500 per unit for multifamily developments. Staff noted those figures were selected previously in part to encourage development, and presented comparable fees in nearby communities — Ham Lake ($2,500 per lot), Oak Grove ($2,300), Isanti ($1,500), and Saint Francis ($2,300) — to show regional variation.

Council members said the current $2,000 fee is insufficient to cover trail construction and long‑term park needs. One council member recommended returning to a mid‑point amount and suggested $4,000 for park dedication. Another proposed creating a separate trail fee — examples discussed included a $1,000-per-unit trail fee or requiring developers to construct specific trail connections where they align with the city’s master trail plan. Staff noted trail construction and asphalt maintenance are costly and that some cities require sidewalks or substitute trail construction when it aligns with a comprehensive trail plan.

Council members asked that the parks committee be included in the discussion. Staff said park and dedication fees are adopted annually in January and that, if the council chooses to change the amounts, it could place revised fees on the January schedule. No fee increase was adopted at the work session; the council asked staff to bring the issue to the parks committee and return with recommendations.

Next steps: staff will consult the parks committee, prepare fee alternatives (including a possible $4,000 park dedication and a separate trail fee), and present findings and draft ordinance language at a future meeting for council consideration.